Bauchi Govt Assists 300 SGBV Victims

Bauchi State Action Committee on Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) has rehabilitated about 300 survivors in the state.

LEADERSHIP reports that the victims were supported with needed care and attention that they needed to rebuild their confidence to live normal life.

The secretary of the Bauchi State Action Committee on SGBV, Talatu Musa, stated this when she fielded questions from journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Bauchi, yesterday.

She said the committee addressed issues ranging from sexual assault, deprivation, child abuse, and domestic violence.

Talatu added that they are collaborating with the police and response teams in all 20 local government areas of the state.

She emphasised that all the SGBV services are free as the governor has approved a certain amount of money to the committee for the day-to-day running of its affairs including transporting a victim from the LGA to the state capital.

The committee was established by the first lady of Bauchi State, Hajiya Aisha Bala Mohammed, three years ago to tackle headlong the menace of sexual and gender-based violence, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Talatu added that the committee came into being in July 2020 and was created to create awareness on the issues of GBV and take proactive measures in collaboration with the stakeholders in the state.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed assented to the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act which provides for death penalty for suspects of SGBV found guilty in the state.